Comprehensive Guide - How to read Brisnet.com Ultimate Past Performances

Pick Pony | March 21, 2024, 2:01 p.m.

How To Read Brisnet.com Ultimate Past Performances

Past Performance heading

The large number is the race number.

Next are the exotic bets available for this race.

The distance, type of race, etc. are presented in the large paragraph.

Post time shows Easter, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones. The race’s time zone will be surrounded by parenthesis.

Next are the pace and speed ratings. Located at the top right of the page, they show the average pace and speed ratings for the leader/winner of races at today’s class level and distance.

Jockey Stats

Provides information on:

  1. The jockey’s record for the meet (number of mounts, wins, shows, places, and win percentage).
  2. The jockey’s record for the year (number of mounts, percentage of winners, percentage of in-the-money finishes, and ROI or return on investment for every $2.00 wagered).
  3. The jockey’s record with horses of this run style (number of mounts, percentage of winners, percentage of in-the-money finishes, and ROI or return on investment for every $2.00 wagered).
  4. The jockey’s record with the trainer in the L60 or last sixty days (number of mounts, percentage of winners, percentage of in-the-money finishes, and return on investment for every $2.00 wagered).
  5. The jockey’s record at today’s distance or surface (number of mounts, percentage of winners, percentage of in-the-money finishes, and return on investment for every $2.00 wagered).

Trainer Stats

Provides information on:

  1. The trainer’s record for the meet (number of starts, wins, shows, places, and win percentage).
  2. The trainer’s record for the year (number of starts, percentage of winners, percentage of in-the-money finishes, and ROI or return on investment for every $2.00 wagered).
  3. The trainer’s record with race angles that pertain to today’s race (Number of starts, percentage of winners, percentage of in-the-money finishes, and ROI of return on investment for every $2.00 wagered). The statistics in this category cover the last three years.

Sire Status, Dam’s Site, and Dam’s Stats

Sire and Dam’s Sire Stats (first two lines)

Provides information on:

  1. AWD or average winning distance of sire’s and dam sire’s offspring.
  2. Mud win percentage of sire’s and dam sire’s offspring.
  3. The number of mud starts by sire’s and dam sire’s offspring.
  4. Turf win percentage of sire’s and dam sire’s offspring (turf races only).
  5. First time starter win percentage of sire’s and dam sire’s offspring (2yo and maiden races only).
  6. Win percentage of sires and dam sires' offspring at the first turf start (turf races only).
  7. The Sire Production Index (spi) which compares the earnings of this sire’s and broodmare sire’s offspring with the average earnings of the offspring of all North American sires. The average is established as 1.00 so, if a sire’s spi is 2.00 this means that his offspring average earnings are twice the national average.

Dam Stats

Provides information on:

  1. Dam’s accomplishments (“Winner” in this instance)
  2. The percentage of the dam’s two-year-old starters who won at least one race (Two-year-old and maiden races only). Note: this stat isn’t shown in the example above. It would be presented to the left of the 0trfW stat.
  3. The number of starters the dam has produced (Two-year-old and maiden races only). 3str in this instance.
  4. The number of starters to win at least one race on any surface – dirt or turf (Two-year-old, maiden, and turf races only).
  5. The number of starters to win at least one turf race (turf races only).
  6. The number of stakes winners the dam has produced (Two-year-old, maiden, and turf races only).
  7. The Dams Production Index (dpi) compares the earnings of this dam’s produce with the average earnings of all North American broodmares. The average is established as 1.00, so if a dam’s dpi is 2.00, this means that her produce average earnings are twice the national average (two-year-old, maiden, and turf races only).

Sales Stats

  1. Provides information on:
  2. What sale was the horse sold at, and in what year
  3. The price the horse sold for.
  4. The horse’s ranking in the context of all sire’s offspring sold at public auction that year. As an example, if a filly or colt has a ranking of (13/23) that means that there were 23 horses that were sold by this horse’s sire, and she or he brought the 13th best price of the 23.
  5. The average sales price of offspring by this horse’s sire.
  6. The stud fee of the sire at the time this horse was bred.

Horse’s Pedigree, Sales & Breeding Information

Provides information on:

  1. The color of the horse.
    Ch. = chestnut Dkbbr. = dark bay or brown
    Gr/ro. = gray or roan Bl. = black Wh. = white
  2. The sex of the horse.
    c = colt f = filly h = horse
    m = mare g = gelding r = ridgeling
  3. The age of the horse.
  4. Month of birth (Two-year old and maidens only).
  5. The sale at which the horse sold, the year of the sale, and the sales price.
  6. The sire, (the sire’s sire) and current stud fee.
  7. The dam and (the dam’s sire).
  8. The breeder and the state or country in which the horse was bred.

Bris Prime Power Rating

A number that measures the quality of each horse’s most recent starts by combining dozens of handicapping factors into one easy-to-use rating. Speed, class, pace, form, weight, distance, and many more factors are combined by a sophisticated algorithm to form this rating. The horse’s ranking in this race appears in parenthesis. For more information on Prime Power, Find High Percentage Plays with PRIME POWER! at the end of this page.

Run Style Stats

Provides information on:

  1. The running style of the horse:

    E (Early) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that typically vies for the early lead or whose best races are run on the lead. Most horses in this category do not successfully rate behind a pacesetter.

    E/P (Early/Presser) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that runs second or third within a few lengths of the lead early before trying to run down the leader. An “E/P” horse, just like an “E” horse, may run on the front end but, unlike an “E” horse, it can be expected to successfully rate behind a pace setter.

    P (Presser) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that runs in the middle of the pack early before trying to run down the leader. A “P” horse may at times run close to the lead but rarely, if ever, challenges for the lead early. Unlike and “S” horse, the “P” horse doesn’t typically run from the rear of the pack in its better races.

    S (Sustain or Closer) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that runs in the back of the pack early before trying to run down the leader.

    NA (Not Available) = A horse that is a first-time starter or hasn’t had enough meaningful running lines to accurately assess its preferred run style.

  2. Early speed points. The numbers range from 0-8 and measure the Early Speed ability of the horse based on its running position and beaten lengths at the first call of recent races. The higher the number, the more early speed a horse has shown in recent races.

Bris Pedigree Ratings

The Pedigree Ratings are in bold above. The rating is applied to each condition. Note that the condition (e.g., Fst, Off, Dis, Trf) also applies to the horse’s career record, which is presented to the right of the Birs Pedigree Ratings.

  1. The Fast Pedigree rating measures the quality and suitability of a horse’s breeding for dirt races.
  2. The Off Pedigree rating measures the quality and suitability of the horse’s breeding for races run over a wet dirt surface.
  3. The Distance Pedigree rating measures the quality and suitability of the horse’s breeding for races run at today’s distance.
  4. The Turf Pedigree rating measures the quality and suitability of the horse’s breeding for races run on the turf.

For more information, please refer to the article Bris Pedigree Ratings at the end of this page.

Medication, Equipment, and the Weight the Horse Will Carry

Provides information on:

  1. Medication the horse will be using today. L = Lasix, = First Lasix, B = Bute
  2. Whether or not the horse will be adding or taking off blinkers today. ON = blinkers on, OFF = blinkers off.
  3. The amount of weight, including the jockey, the horse will carry for this race. If today’s jockey is an apprentice, a smaller number will appear immediately to the right of the weight. This is the number of pounds that the jockey gets as a weight allowance for being an apprentice.

Denotations for Today’s Race

Found to the right of the horse’s name and Run Style, it tells if a horse is:

  1. AE = Also Eligible for today’s race. This is seen when more horses are entered than can actually start in the race. A horse that is also eligible can only be drawn into the race if there are scratches.
  2. MTO = Main Track Only. This designation is seen only in turf races and means that the horse will run only if the race is moved to the main or dirt track.
  3. In the event that the race is a claiming race, the claiming price of the horse.

Horse’s Start Information

Provides information on:

  1. Life: The horse’s number of career starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, career earnings, and lifetime best Bris speed rating.
  2. Horse’s Current Year Record: Number of starts, wins, second place finishes, third place finishes, earnings for the year, and best Bris speed rating for the year.
  3. Horse’s Previous Year Record: Number of starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, earnings for the previous year, and best Bris speed rating for that year.
  4. Horse’s Career Record at Today’s Track: Number of starts, wins, second place finishes, third place finishes, earnings at this track, and best Bris speed rating earned at this track.

To the right of the horse’s career records is the pedigree rating for various race types. To the right of that is the horse's career record over the various race types. Pedigree stats and the horse’s career stats share the same race type label (i.e., “Fst” is used as the label for the Pedigree information and the horses’ career race stats.

  1. Fst: Horse’s career record over fast dirt tracks includes the number of starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, earnings, and best Bris speed rating earned over fast dirt tracks.
  2. Off: The horse’s career record over wet dirt tracks, including the number of starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, earnings, and best Bris speed rating earned over wet dirt tracks.
  3. Dis: Horse’s career record at today’s distance includes the number of starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, earnings, and best Bris speed rating at today’s distance.
  4. Trf: The horse’s career record on the turf, including number of starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, earnings, and best Bris speed rating on the turf.
  5. AW: The horse’s career record on All-Weather tracks, including number of starts, wins, second-place finishes, third-place finishes, earnings, and best Bris speed rating on an all-weather track.

For More information on Bris speed ratings, refer to the article Bris Speed Ratings at the end of this page.

Owner & Jockey Silks

It provides information on who owns the horse and the color of the silks the jockey will be wearing in today’s race.

Positive and Negative Comments

Positive comments for a horse will appear in the box on the left, while negative comments will appear in the box on the right.

Race history

Date of Race, Track, and Race Number

The date, track, and race number for a horse’s last 10 starts.

Surface, Distance, and Track Condition

Provides information on:

  1. The surface the race was run on.

     

    The main dirt track has no designation.

    O• = inner dirt track

    OT = main turf course

    OT = inner turf course

    OX = a race that was originally scheduled for the turf but moved to the main track.

    OA = all-weather track

  2. The distance the race was run. All races under a mile are measured in furlongs and designated with an “f”.

    One furlong = one-eighth of a mile.

  3. Track condition denotes the condition of the track at the time the race was run.

    ft = fastgd = good
    my = muddysy = sloppy
    wf = wet fastfm = firm
    yl = yieldingsf = soft
    hy = heavysl – slow.

Fractional Times of Leader, Final Time, and Age Designation

Provides information on:

  1. The fractional time of the leader at various points in the race.
  2. The final time the race was run in will be the last of the series of times.
  3. The age designation for the race: A race designated with 3 would be a race for three-year-olds and up. A race3 designated with 4 would be a race for four-year-olds and up. No designation means that the race was age-specific.

Bris RR, Race type, and CR Ratings

  1. RR is the Bris Race Rating and measures the overall quality of horses that competed in a race: the higher the number, the tougher the competition. For more information, refer to Bris Race and Class Ratingsat the end of this page.
  2. CR is the Bris Class Rating that measures a horse’s actual performance against this competition in a race: the higher the number, the better the horse performed.
  3. Race Type: tells the conditions for the race. For more information on race type, see Types of Horse Classes and races, progressions, and class change considerations.

Bris Pace and Speed Ratings and race shape

  1. E1 is a pace rating that measures how fast the horse ran from the start to the first call of the race. ( 2f Pace in sprints, 4f Pace in routes).
  2. E2 is a pace rating that measures how fast the horse ran from the start to the second call of the race. (4f Pace in sprints, 6f Pace in most routes).
  3. LP is a pace rating that measures how fast the horse ran from the second call of the race to the finish.
  4. 1c and 2c are the BRIS Race Shapes. The first BRIS Race Shape value corresponds to the first call (2f call for most sprints; and 4f call for most routes). The second BRIS Race Shape value corresponds to the second call (4f call for most sprints; and 6f call for most routes). They measure how fast the leader ran relative to the average leader time (for all races at this distance) for the race’s final time. The faster the leader’s pace, the higher the BRIS Race Shape (e.g. +7). The slower the leader’s pace, the lower the BRIS Race Shape (e.g. -7). For instance, a Bris Race Shape of (+17 +19) indicates a fast pace.

    A primary use of the BRIS Race Shapes is to quickly identify horses that were advantaged/disadvantaged by unusually fast or slow-paced races. Generally speaking, horses with a late running style want a fast pace upfront to be most effective. Conversely, horses with an early running style want a softer pace to be most effective. So, whenever a pace is unusually fast or slow, evaluate whether the horse was advantaged or disadvantaged by the pace.
  5. SPD is the Speed Rating and measures how fast the horse ran the race from start to finish.

For more information on Bris Pace and Speed Ratings, please refer to the Bris Pace Ratings article at the end of this page.

Post Position, Placement Throughout the Race, and Finish

Provides information on:

  1. PP or the post position the horse had in the starting gate.
  2. The horse’s position in the field and lengths behind or in front at the ST (start), 1C (First Call of the race), 2C (Second Call of the race), and Str (Stretch Call of the race), FIN where the horse finished the race and his number of lengths behind or in front at the Finish.

Jockey and Weight

The name of the jockey that rode the horse and the amount of weight the horse carried, including the jockey.

Medication, Equipment, and Odds

Provides information on:

  1. The medication the horse was using during the race. L = Lasix, B = Bute.
  2. The equipment the horse was using during the race. b = blinkers, f = front wraps.
  3. The final ODDS the horse went off at.

Top Finishers, Comment, and Number of Starters

Provides information on:

  1. The top three finishers in the race with lengths separating them at the finish. Horses that came back to win their next race and are in today’s race appear in bold print. Horses that won their next race and are in today’s race will be in bold italics.
  2. The comment will tell about the trip the horse had or how he or she ran the race.
  3. The number of starters in the race.

Workouts

Provides information on:

  1. The date of the workout. If a appears before the date, that means that the work was a bullet or the fastest at that distance for the day.
  2. The track code for the location of the workout.
  3. The distance of the work and the condition of the track. If a t appears beside the track name, then the work took place at the training track. O means that the work was on the turf. Some works may occur around “the dogs” (d), a term used to describe the situation where cones are put out on the track to keep horses from working too close to the rail. This most commonly occurs on turf courses that have been saturated with water or turf courses where there has been a lot of wear near the rail and the track attendants try to protect it as much as possible.
  4. The time of the work and how the horse worked. B = Breezing (easy), H = Handily (with urging from the rider). If the horse worked from the gate, it will be denoted with a g.
  5. The ranking of the workout. If a horse was 53/70, that means that he ran the 53rd best time of 70 horses that worked at the distance.

A further note on BRIS Race Shapes

BRIS Race Shapes enable the user to quickly determine whether a race's pace was unusually fast or slow. The Race Shapes measure how fast the leader ran relative to the average leader time for the race’s final time.

Two Race Shape values are provided for a race. The first BRIS Race Shape value corresponds to the first call (2f call for most sprints; and 4f call for most routes). The second BRIS Race Shape value corresponds to the second call (4f call for most sprints; and 6f call for most routes).

For more information on BRIS Race Shapes, please refer to the Bris Race Shapes article at the end of this page.

Track Bias Explanation

Surface, Distance, and # of Races

Provides information on the total number of races run at today’s distance and surface. If there is an insufficient number of races in the database for the exact distance of today’s race, the distance category (sprint or route) will be displayed instead.

% Wire

Provides information on the percentage of races won in wire-to-wire fashion at this distance and surface.

Speed Bias

The percentage of races won by horses exhibiting either an E or E/P running style.

Date Range

The date range of the statistics included.

WnrAvgBl

The eventual winner’s average beaten lengths at the 1stCall (first call) of the race and the 2ndCall (second call) of the race.

Runstyle

  1. E (Early) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that typically vies for the early lead or whose best races are run on the lead. Most horses in this category do not successfully rate behind a pacesetter.
  2. E/P (Early/Presser) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that runs second or third within a few lengths of the lead early before trying to run down the leader. An “E/P” horse, just like an “E” horse, may run on the front end but, unlike an “E” horse, it can be expected to rate behind a pace setter successfully.
  3. P (Presser) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that runs in the middle of the pack early before trying to run down the leader. A “P” horse may at times run close to the lead but rarely, if ever, challenges for the lead early. Unlike an “S” horse, the “P” horse doesn’t typically run from the rear of the pack in its better races.
  4. S (Sustain or Closer) = A horse that exhibits this run style is one that runs in the back of the pack early before trying to run down the leader.
  5. NA (Not Available) = A horse that is a first-time starter or hasn’t had enough meaningful running lines to accurately assess its preferred run style.

Impact Values

The BRIS Impact Value mathematically represents the effectiveness of a Running Style or Post Position at a specific track/distance. The average Impact Value of all starts is 1.00 and the higher the number, the better.

  1. Example #1: Impact Value: 0.50 means that the run style or post position won only 1/2 its rightful share of races or only 50% of the expected number of wins.
  2. Example #2: Impact Value 1.50 means that the run style or post position won 1 1/2 times its rightful share of races or won 150% of the expected number of wins.

Note: The average Impact Value of all Run Styles and Post Positions may not equal 1.00 due to the fact that each Run Style/Post Position category may not have the same number of starts.

% Races Won

Provided for each Running Style, this represents the percentage of races won by each run style.

Post Bias

  1. RAIL: Post Position #1
  2. 1-3: Post Positions #1, #2, #3
  3. 4-7: Post Positions #4, #5, #6, #7
  4. 8+: Post Positions #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, etc.

Avg Win %

The average win percentage for the pertinent post position category.

Note: The win percentage will not total 100% because the stats given are averages of post position groups.

Track Bias Symbols

  1. + = A favorable post position/run style for this track/distance which is relative to the other post positions/running styles. Displayed above the Impact Value when appropriate, the single plus (+) provides a quick and easy means to identify a favorable post position/run style based on Impact Value or percentage of races won.
  2. ++ = The best or most successful run style for this track/distance. Displayed above the Impact Value when appropriate, the double plus (++) provides a quick and easy means to identify the dominant/most successful runstyle based on Impact Value and the percentage of races won.

Race Summary Explanation

NOTE: Horses are ranked in the Race Summary by their Avg Dist/Surf speed rating. If this area is blank, then the order of ranking is random.

Horse Information

Provides information on:

  1. # – The program number of the horse
  2. Horse Name – The name of the horse
  3. ML Odds – The morning line odds for the horse established by the race track.
  4. Med/Eqp – The medication and/or equipment the horse will be using today. L = Lasix, b = blinkers
  5. Days Since L/R – Days Since Last Race. One dot after this stat indicates that his last race was the horse’s first start off of a layoff. Two dots indicate that his last race was the horse’s second start off of a layoff.
  6. Run Style & PTS - The run style of the horse. E = Early, E/P = Early/Presser, P = Presser, S = Sustained or closer
  7. PTS or Early Speed Points. The numbers range from 0-8 and measure the Early Speed ability of the horse based on its running position and beaten lengths at the first call of recent races. The higher the number, the more early speed a horse has shown in recent races.

    NOTE: A + (plus sign) indicates that this is a favorable running style for this race. A ++ (double plus sign) indicates this is the race's best or most dominant running style. For more information on the + and ++, please refer to the “TRACK BIAS EXPLANATION”.

  8. Avg Dist/Surf: Average speed and pace ratings for the horse specific to today’s distance and surface category.

    1. El – The average pace rating for the horse from the start to the first call of the race for today’s distance and surface category.
    2. E2 – The average pace rating for the horse from the start to the second call of the race for today’s distance and surface category.
    3. Late – The average pace rating for the horse from the second call of the race to the finish for today’s distance and surface category.
    4. SPD – The average BRIS speed rating for the horse at today’s distance and surface category.

    NOTE: Speed ratings surrounded by asterisks indicate that two or more races occurred at or near today’s distance and surface within the last 90 days and are included in the average. Parentheses indicate that the race used occurred more than 90 days ago. If there are no asterisks or parentheses, there was only one race in the last 90 days at or near today’s distance and surface category, and the pace and speed ratings are for that race.

  9. Avg Race Rtng: An average of a horse’s most recent Bris Race Ratings at today’s distance/surface category. Bris Race Ratings measures how strong a field was not on the race classification but on the actual horses that raced. The higher the number is, the better the quality of the field the horse faced.
  10. Best Pace: The best El pace figure, best E2 pace figure, and best LP pace figure earned by the horse for today’s distance and surface category within a one-year period.
  11. Final Speed: The Final Speed shows the horse’s final speed figure for the last four races back, starting with the most recent.

    Any speed ratings earned at today’s distance/surface category will have a dot after the rating. Turf races are indicated with a “T”.

  12. ACL: The Average Competitive Level is a rating based on the Race Ratings when finishing in the money. Parentheses indicate a rating that was not at today’s distance and surface. For a detailed explanation of the ACL, please refer to the Speed and Class Moving Averages (Average Competitive Level (ACL)article at the end of this page.
  13. Reg Spd Avg: Racing Speed Average is an average of the speed ratings earned by a horse over the course of its last three starts.
  14. Previous Race Ratings: This is the race rating for the horse’s three previous races. Rl is the first race back, R2 is the second race back, and R3 is the third race back.
  15. Mud Spd: The best BRIS speed rating a horse has earned over a muddy/sloppy track.
  16. Pedigree Statistics:
    Provides Information on:
    1. Mud Sts—This is the number of starts that the sire's progeny have made on off tracks. (This statistic is shown for all races except for two-year-old, maiden, and turf races.)
    2. % Mud – This is the percentage of wins from starts that the sire’s progeny have over off tracks.
    3. % 1st – This is the percentage of the sire’s progeny that win when making their first career start. (This statistic is shown for two-year-olds and maiden races only.)
    4. SPI – The Sire Production Index compares the earnings of this sire’s offspring with the average earnings of the offspring of all North American sires. The average is established at 1.00 so if a sire’s spi is 2.00 this means that his offspring’s average earnings are twice the national average. (This statistic appears only for two-year-olds and maiden races.)
    5. DPI – The Dam Production Index compares the earnings of this dam’s produce with the average earnings of the produce of all North American broodmares. The average is established as 1.00 so if a dam’s dpi is 2.00 this means that her produce average earnings are twice the national average. (This statistic appears on two-year-old and maiden races only).
    6. %Trf – This is the percentage of wins from starts the sire’s progeny have on the turf. (This statistic appears on turf races only.)
    7. Sire AWD – The average winning distance of the sire’s offspring represented in furlongs.
    8. Dam Sire’s AWD – The average winning distance of the sire’s offspring represented in furlongs.

Race summaries by horse

Speed Last Race: The speed figure earned by each horse in their last start, regardless of distance or surface.

Back Speed: The best speed figure earned by each horse within the last year at today’s distance/surface category.

Current Class: A rating based on a horse’s most recent starts with more emphasis on the most recent starts at or near today’s distance and surface.

Average Class Last 3: An average of the Bris Class Rating for the last three starts, regardless of distance and surface. For more information, please refer to the Bris Race and Class Ratings article at the end of this page.

Prime Power: A number that measures the quality of each horse’s most recent starts by combining dozens of handicapping factors into one easy-to-use rating. Speed, class, pace, form, weight, and many more factors are combined by a sophisticated algorithm to form this rating. 

Early Pace Last Race: The early pace rating earned by each horse in its last start, regardless of distance or surface. If the last race was a sprint, the number will be the E2 pace rating and if it was a route, it will be the El pace rating.

Late Pace Last Race: The late pace rating earned by each horse in its last start, regardless of distance or surface.

Win up to 55% of the Time!
So, how effective is Prime Power? Consider these results: a comprehensive study of tens of thousands of races shows that Prime Power selects 31% top winners. That's impressive, but when we narrow down the study to only dirt races, the results become even more intriguing.

Top Prime Power horses by three full points (3.0+) or better score 39% of the time!\
Top Prime Power horses by six full points (6.0+) or better score 46% of the time!
 
Top Prime Power horses by ten full points (10.0+) or better score 55% of the time!
 

If the results of this study don't pique your interest, you might need to reassess. You won't find ratings like these anywhere else! Prime Power identifies key horses that win a high percentage of the time. The success rate we're discussing is significantly higher than that of favorites.

Prime Power Defined
Prime Power is a comprehensive rating developed over years. It integrates various elements like BRIS Speed, Class, Pace, form, weight, distance, and more through a complex computer algorithm. This potent figure uses many qualitative handicapping factors to accurately gauge the quality of each horse's recent starts, consolidating them into a single rating. Similar to other BRIS performance figures like Class, Pace, or Speed, a higher number indicates a better rating.

Using Prime Power
Assigning one number per horse simplifies the analysis of contenders in any race. The advantage of Prime Power is that it makes identifying "key" horses as simple as downloading our PPs or using Power Search. You can quickly identify which horses have a significant advantage. Then, you can leverage these "key" Prime Power advantage horses in any of the available exotic wagers.

Bris Pedigree Ratings

What does the Bris Pedigree rating measure?

The Fast (Dirt) Pedigree rating evaluates the horse's breeding for dirt races.

The Wet Pedigree rating evaluates the horse's breeding for wet dirt surface races.

The Distance Pedigree rating evaluates the horse's breeding for races at the current distance.

The Turf Pedigree rating evaluates the horse's breeding for turf races.

How should I interpret the Bris Pedigree Rating?

While higher Pedigree Ratings are generally preferred, it's crucial not to merely look for the highest-rated horse. Instead, value-oriented handicappers should compare a horse's rating at today's distance or surface to its other pedigree ratings. Consider whether a horse's pedigree ratings suggest an improvement or decline at today's distance or surface.

In turf races, look for horses with a higher TURF Pedigree Rating compared to their FAST dirt Pedigree Rating. These horses, based on the performances of others with similar breeding, are well-suited to grass and often significantly improve when trying the grass.

In dirt races, look for horses with a higher DIST Pedigree Rating than their overall FAST dirt Pedigree Rating. These horses, based on the performances of others with similar breeding, are well-suited to today's distance and often show substantial improvement when today's distance varies significantly from their other races.

In races on a wet track, look for horses with a higher WET Pedigree Rating than their FAST dirt Pedigree Rating. These horses, based on the performances of others with similar breeding, are well-suited to a wet track and often dramatically improve when running on a wet track.

How are the Bris Pedigree Ratings calculated?

Based on an analysis of hundreds of thousands of starts in North America, we evaluate and measure each start of all offspring from the Sire, Dam, and Damsire for their individual racing aptitudes and preferences. Unlike other pedigree ratings that only reflect win percentages or earnings, the BRIS Pedigree Ratings use a wide range of performance rating tools, such as Speed Ratings, Class Ratings, Power Ratings, etc. These tools accurately measure the actual improvement or decline each offspring displayed at different distances and surfaces. This thorough compilation results in the most accurate, comprehensive, and predictive pedigree ratings available to handicappers.

What do the “?” and “*” symbols mean?

When the BRIS Pedigree Ratings are largely based on small sample sizes, a ‘?’ or ‘*’ symbol is given. Those rated with an ‘*’ have the smallest sample size.

When should I use the Brid Pedigree ratings?

The BRIS Pedigree Ratings are especially valuable when horses are attempting something for the first time. This could include making their first career start, trying a new distance, switching to turf, or running on an off track for the first time.

Bris Speed Ratings

How are the Bris Speed Ratings calculated?

BRIS Speed Ratings are derived from a variant of the "projection method", which is also the basis for some other popular speed figures. However, unlike these methods, BRIS employs an objective, computer-precise technique to make final time projections, rather than relying on the subjective opinion of a single handicapper.

The system meticulously examines the past performances of every horse competing in a given race - a level of detail only achievable with a computer. The projections produced by Bloodstock Research's computer system are based on proprietary techniques and algorithms, which have been thoroughly tested and proven over hundreds of thousands of races. This precision enables the BRIS Speed Ratings to use the most accurate projections and variants possible.

Are Bris Speed Ratings comparable across different tracks?

Since the ratings are "fully adjusted" to reflect both daily and track-to-track variations, they can be compared across all North American racetracks.

How many speed points represent one length?

The BRIS Speed Ratings scale is based on the widely accepted concept that a length's value decreases as distances increase. On this scale, one length is approximately equivalent to 1.5 points in sprints and about 1 point in routes.

Can Bris Speed Ratings be compared from different distances?

BRIS Speed Ratings are designed for easy comparison of all races, regardless of distance. In theory, a speed rating of 85 in a sprint is equivalent to a speed rating of 85 in a route. However, a sprint speed rating of 85 doesn't necessarily mean the same horse could earn an 85 in a route race. Horses are individuals, not machines, and each one has its own distance limitations.

What are some typical speed ratings for >3 and up males?

                                                        BRIS
                                                                        SPEED
                   A typical Grade I stakes winner .................... 106
                   A typical "OPEN" Claiming $10,000 winner ...........  88
                   A typical Maiden Claiming $10,000 winner ...........  75

A typical winning Grade I stakes older male horse will earn a BRIS Speed Rating of 106 or thereabout. Of course, these horses will often earn speed ratings much higher in their very best efforts. “Cigar” has earned speed ratings as high as 117.

Bris Race and Class Ratings

What’s the difference between a “Race” rating and a “Class” rating?

A Race Rating assesses the overall caliber of horses that competed in a race. The higher the number, the more competitive the race was.

A Class Rating gauges a horse's actual performance in a race. The higher the number, the better the performance.

Who creates the Race and Class ratings?

The Race & Class Ratings are generated daily by computers at Bloodstock Research Information Services, Inc.. A Race Rating is calculated for EVERY RACE in North America. And a Class Rating is calculated for EVERY START of all horses in North America.

What is the theory underlying the Race and Class ratings?

The Race & Class Ratings are predicated on the idea that a horse's performance in a particular race can be accurately measured by considering the horses it has beaten, those that have beaten it, and the margins involved. The final time is not considered when calculating these ratings.

How many points are considered a “significant” edge in the class ratings?

A one point edge over a competitor is considered “significant” and an edge of two or more points is considered a “substantial” advantage.

What are some typical Race and Class ratings for >3 and up males?

Race Winner’s

Rating Class Rating

An average Grade I stakes race ………… 120 123

An average “OPEN” Claiming $10,000 race … 112 115

An average Maiden Claiming $10,000 race … 105 108

The best races (Grade 1 older stakes males) will typically receive a RACE RATING in the 120-125 range. And the winner of these races will typically earn a CLASS RATING in the 123 to 127 range.

A $10,000 “Open” Claiming race for older males will typically receive a RACE RATING in the 111-112 range. And the winner of these races will typically earn a CLASS RATING in the 114 to 115 range.

A $10,000 Maiden Claiming race for older males will typically receive a RACE RATING in the 105-106 range. And the winner of these races will typically earn a CLASS RATING in the 108-109 range.

Bris Pace Ratings

What do the Bris Pace Ratings measure?

BRIS Pace Ratings measure how fast a horse ran up to a specific point-of-call (2f,4f,6f,…) in a race - the higher the number, the faster the horse ran.

      2f Pace Rating   - rates how fast the horse ran from the start
                                         to the 1/4 mile call. (2f)
                      4f Pace Rating   - rates how fast the horse ran from the start
                                         to the 1/2 mile call. (4f)
                      6f Pace Rating   - rates how fast the horse ran from the start 
                                         to the 3/4 mile call. (6f)
                      E1 Pace Rating   - rates how fast the horse ran from the start
                                         to the 1st call (2f Pace in sprints, 4f Pace
                                         in most routes).
                      E2 Pace Rating   - rates how fast the horse ran from the start
                                         to the 2nd call (4f Pace in sprints, 6f Pace
                                         in most routes).
                       Late Pace Rating - rates how fast the horse ran from the 2nd call
                                         (pre-stretch call) to the finish.

 

What are the fundamental differences between the Bris Pace Ratings and the Bris Speed Ratings?

Unlike the BRIS Speed Ratings, which use a variable points-per-length scale based on race distance, the BRIS Pace Ratings use a constant 2-points-per-length scale for all pace calls (2f, 4f, etc.), regardless of race distance. This fixed scale is due to the fact that the ground covered for any given pace call is the same, regardless of the total race distance. For instance, a 1/4 mile call equals two furlongs whether the entire race is six furlongs or ten furlongs (1 1/4 miles). Since the distances being measured are the same regardless of the total race distance (e.g., a 1/2 mile call in a sprint is the same as a 1/2 mile call in a route), the BRIS Pace Ratings apply the constant 2-points-per-length scale to all pace calls across all distances.

What are the fundamental differences between the Bris Pace Ratings and the “Quirin” style pace ratings?

Quirin style pace ratings are standardized around the concept of $10,000 3up Open male Claiming pacesetters being equal to 100 across all distances. However, BRIS Pace Ratings do not follow this principle. They acknowledge that sprinters run faster than route horses in the early stages of the race.

Quirin style pace ratings tend to underrate the demonstrated early speed of sprinters and overrate that of route horses when a sprinter stretches out or a route horse shortens up.

For a more accurate measure of a horse's early speed at any distance, the BRIS Pace Ratings reflect exactly how fast the horse ran, irrespective of the race distance. So, unlike Quirin style pace ratings, a horse that ran an adjusted time of :45 flat for the 1/2 in a 6 furlong sprint gets the same 4f pace rating as a horse that ran an adjusted time of :45 flat for the 1/2 in a 1 1/16 mile race.

How can I calculate “Turn Time” using the Bris Pace Ratings?

Subtract the 1st call Pace Rating (2f Pace Rating for sprints, 4f Pace Rating for most routes) from the 2nd call Pace Rating (4f Pace Rating for sprints, 6f for most routes):

      BRIS Turn Time          = E2 Pace Rating - E1 Pace Rating
                   or
                      BRIS Turn Time (sprint) = 4f Pace Rating - 2f Pace Rating
                   or
                      BRIS Turn Time (route)  = 6f Pace Rating - 4f Pace Rating
                   For example:
                                 BRIS PACE                  TURN
                                  E1   E2      ( E2 - E1 )  TIME
                   HORSE "A"      90   96      ( 96 -  90) = +6
                   HORSE "B"      92   96      ( 96 -  92) = +4
                   HORSE "C"      96   96      ( 96 -  96) = +0
                   HORSE "D"     100  100      (100 - 100) = +0

Horse “A” has the fastest turn time (+6) which is one length (2 points) faster than Horse “B” (+4).

Also, note that HORSE “C” & “D” have the same turn time (+0). Horse “D” (E1=100) ran 2 lengths (4 points) faster up to the 1st call than Horse “C” (E1= 96) but Horse “D” (E2=100) was still 2 lengths faster up to the 2nd call than than Horse “C” (E2= 96). Therefore, Horse “C” and Horse “D” ran the same speed between the first two calls.

What are some typical Pace/Speed ratings for >3 and up males?

                                                      PACE RATING   BRIS
                                                                      E1  E2/LATE   SPEED
                   Grade I stakes pacesetter/winner (SPRINT) ........ 99 109/ 94     106
                   "OPEN" Claiming $10k pacesetter/winner (SPRINT) .. 94  98/ 84      88
                   Maiden Claiming $10k pacesetter/winner (SPRINT) .. 90  89/ 77      75  
                   Grade I stakes pacesetter/winner (ROUTE) ......... 95 106/101     106
                   "OPEN" Claiming $10k pacesetter/winner (ROUTE) ... 86  88/ 87      88
                   Maiden Claiming $10k pacesetter/winner (ROUTE) ... 80  75/ 77      75  

BRIS Race Shapes

What are the Bris Race Shapes?

The BRIS Race Shapes indicate the leader's speed in comparison to the average leader time for the final race time. A faster pace by the leader results in a higher BRIS Race Shape (e.g., +7), while a slower pace leads to a lower BRIS Race Shape (e.g., -7). For example, a BRIS Race Shape of (+17 +19) signifies a fast pace.

How should the Bris Race Shapes be used as a handicapping tool?

BRIS Race Shapes offer various benefits. One primary use is to quickly identify horses that were advantaged or disadvantaged by unusually fast or slow-paced races. Generally, late-running horses prefer a fast upfront pace, while early-running horses prefer a softer pace. Thus, if a pace is unusually fast or slow, assess whether the horse was advantaged or disadvantaged by it. Expect potential improvement from horses disadvantaged by the pace of recent races, and be skeptical of the performances of horses advantaged by the pace of their recent races.

Why are there two Bris Race Shape values?

The BRIS Race Shapes correspond to the first two calls of a race. The first BRIS Race Shape value corresponds to the initial call (2f for most sprints; 4f for most routes). The second BRIS Race Shape value corresponds to the next call (4f for most sprints; 6f for most routes). This feature allows users to quickly identify the fastest and slowest portions of the race relative to the average pace for each segment's final time.

Are the Bris Race Shapes on the same scale as the Bris Pace Ratings?

Like the BRIS Pace Ratings, the BRIS Race Shapes use a fixed scale of two (2) points-per-length. For example, a “+6” Race Shape represents a pace which is three (3) lengths faster than normal.

Speed and Class Moving Averages (Average Competitive Level (ACL)

The Average Competitive Level (ACL) represents the level of competition a runner can successfully handle, based on their previous successful performances. It's designed to recognize "class runners" when handicapping a race, and to evaluate the past performances and current condition of all runners in a race.

This numerical representation is calculated by averaging the Race Rating for a runner's last five successful performances over a year from the race date. Performances that match the distance and surface of the upcoming race are emphasized through a sophisticated weighting procedure. This figure is then adjusted to reflect the runner's performance consistency.

To highlight an ACL calculated only on races not run at the same distance and surface as the entered race, it will be shown in parentheses, for example: (114.2). If a runner has never placed in a race, they will not have an ACL.

Things to watch out for

  • Use the Race Rating from previous races to assess the quality of fields, rather than the claiming price, purse, or conditions.
  • During race handicapping, note the Race Ratings in which each runner has successfully competed, preferably under similar conditions to the race you are handicapping.
  • Use the Average Competitive Level as a tool to gauge the current competitive level for all runners in the race. For young or lightly raced runners, especially two and three-year-olds, who have recently run successfully in Race Ratings higher than their Average Competitive Level, use those higher Race Ratings as the runner’s current competitive level. This will help identify improving runners based on their Average Competitive Level compared to the Race Rating of their current performances.
  • Any runner, even the one with the highest Average Competitive Level, who has recently been unsuccessful in Race Ratings at the same level or below its Average Competitive Level without valid reasons (uncomfortable distance, footing, post position, pace, etc.), is usually considered unfit. A runner’s Average Competitive Level should not be seen as its current competitive level.
  • Pay special attention to young, lightly raced, developing runners advancing to higher levels for the first time, especially those who have just run “impressive” races. These can be identified by their manner of victory and the Speed Ratings earned.
  • In claiming races, be cautious of unusually large claiming price drops. This is particularly true for runners with apparently good form. These runners are often heavily bet and are usually injured. If a good claimer is dropping well below its Average Competitive Level, it’s usually best to avoid it. Trainers don’t give away $35,000 runners for $10,000.
  • Avoid a runner that has recently been unsuccessful without a valid excuse in Race Ratings. Other runners in the race you are handicapping have handled successfully under similar conditions.
  • When comparing each runner’s Average Competitive Level to its performances in recent Race Ratings, don't pick the likely winner based solely on class; use Speed Ratings to distinguish the contenders identified by class. Analyze the Speed Ratings in the context in which the ratings were earned (class, distance, footing, etc.).
  • Limit the use of Speed Rating to runners that are not outclassed today. A runner that earned a high Speed Rating against weak competition cannot be expected to approach that figure when outclassed.
  • A fit runner with a significant Average Competitive Level advantage will consistently beat its rivals unless incidental race factors (distance, footing, post position, pace, etc.) negate its class advantages.